Topographic Shelf Waves Control Seasonal Melting Near Antarctic Ice Shelf Grounding Lines
Abstract The buttressing potential of ice shelves is modulated by changes in subshelf melting, in response to changing ocean conditions. We analyze the temporal variability in subshelf melting using an autonomous phase‐sensitive radio‐echo sounder near the grounding line of the Roi Baudouin Ice Shel...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2019-08-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL083881 |
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| _version_ | 1849715459242328064 |
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| author | Sainan Sun Tore Hattermann Frank Pattyn Keith W. Nicholls Reinhard Drews Sophie Berger |
| author_facet | Sainan Sun Tore Hattermann Frank Pattyn Keith W. Nicholls Reinhard Drews Sophie Berger |
| author_sort | Sainan Sun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The buttressing potential of ice shelves is modulated by changes in subshelf melting, in response to changing ocean conditions. We analyze the temporal variability in subshelf melting using an autonomous phase‐sensitive radio‐echo sounder near the grounding line of the Roi Baudouin Ice Shelf in East Antarctica. When combined with additional oceanographic evidence of seasonal variations in the stratification and the amplification of diurnal tides around the shelf break topography (Gunnerus Bank), the results suggest an intricate mechanism in which topographic waves control the seasonal melt rate variability near the grounding line. This mechanism has not been considered before and has the potential to enhance local melt rates without advecting different water masses. As topographic waves seem to strengthen in a stratified ocean, the freshening of Antarctic surface water, predicted by observations and models, is likely to increase future basal melting in this area. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d16f355c144544e9a34b59abb0551d71 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2019-08-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-d16f355c144544e9a34b59abb0551d712025-08-20T03:13:22ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072019-08-0146169824983210.1029/2019GL083881Topographic Shelf Waves Control Seasonal Melting Near Antarctic Ice Shelf Grounding LinesSainan Sun0Tore Hattermann1Frank Pattyn2Keith W. Nicholls3Reinhard Drews4Sophie Berger5Université libre de Bruxelles Brussels BelgiumNorwegian Polar Institute Tromsø NorwayUniversité libre de Bruxelles Brussels BelgiumBritish Antarctic Survey Cambridge UKDepartment of Geosciences University of Tübingen Tübingen GermanyAlfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz‐Centre for Polar and Marine Research Bremerhaven GermanyAbstract The buttressing potential of ice shelves is modulated by changes in subshelf melting, in response to changing ocean conditions. We analyze the temporal variability in subshelf melting using an autonomous phase‐sensitive radio‐echo sounder near the grounding line of the Roi Baudouin Ice Shelf in East Antarctica. When combined with additional oceanographic evidence of seasonal variations in the stratification and the amplification of diurnal tides around the shelf break topography (Gunnerus Bank), the results suggest an intricate mechanism in which topographic waves control the seasonal melt rate variability near the grounding line. This mechanism has not been considered before and has the potential to enhance local melt rates without advecting different water masses. As topographic waves seem to strengthen in a stratified ocean, the freshening of Antarctic surface water, predicted by observations and models, is likely to increase future basal melting in this area.https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL083881 |
| spellingShingle | Sainan Sun Tore Hattermann Frank Pattyn Keith W. Nicholls Reinhard Drews Sophie Berger Topographic Shelf Waves Control Seasonal Melting Near Antarctic Ice Shelf Grounding Lines Geophysical Research Letters |
| title | Topographic Shelf Waves Control Seasonal Melting Near Antarctic Ice Shelf Grounding Lines |
| title_full | Topographic Shelf Waves Control Seasonal Melting Near Antarctic Ice Shelf Grounding Lines |
| title_fullStr | Topographic Shelf Waves Control Seasonal Melting Near Antarctic Ice Shelf Grounding Lines |
| title_full_unstemmed | Topographic Shelf Waves Control Seasonal Melting Near Antarctic Ice Shelf Grounding Lines |
| title_short | Topographic Shelf Waves Control Seasonal Melting Near Antarctic Ice Shelf Grounding Lines |
| title_sort | topographic shelf waves control seasonal melting near antarctic ice shelf grounding lines |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL083881 |
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